The rumors continue to swirl that Digg may soon become another piece of Google's empire, but if this comes true, it may be amidst heightened competition.

According to Valleywag, there are whispers that Wired, the monthly magazine that serves as a tech-geek bible, will re-launch its faded HotWired site as a news-focused social network akin to Digg.

The move could give Digg a run for its money, thanks to Wired’s built in audience, stemming from its print and online editions. HotWired was originally launched in the 1990s, and was billed in a 1994 email as a "constantly evolving experiment in virtual community."

Conde Nast, Wired's publisher, purchased HotWired in May.